Using Mask Edge Gradients

Use the Offset, In/Out, or Splines edge gradient options to define the inner and outer softness of a mask.

To add edge gradients to a mask:

1. Select the mask object.
2. In the Mask Controls panel (F8), click Modes to access the edge gradient options. (Or, in the Paint Controls panel, click Gradient to access the edge gradient options.)



3. With the mask selected, click the Edge Gradient option and select one of the following.
   
   

   Select:	To:
   Offset	Set an inner or outer offset from the edge of the mask.
   In/Out	Set separate values for the inner and outer offsets from the edge of the mask.
   Splines	Use vertices to control the inner and outer mask offsets at each control point.

   
   
   
4. Enable the Control Points option to view the mask edge gradient outlines.



The Splines display option is enabled by default. When it is enabled, the mask outlines are displayed in the viewport. When the Edges display option is enabled, the mask Edge Gradient outlines are displayed in the viewport.

Note: When the Splines display option is disabled, only the mask control points appear.

Edge gradients are only visible once an object has been completed.

Note: The Splines display option must be enabled to use the Edges display option.

5. To adjust the mask's edge gradient, do one of the following:
6. If you selected the Offset option, adjust the edge gradient with the Offset field and the opacity of the edge gradient in the Opacity field.

Note: The Opacity field is available only with the Offset edge gradient option.

7. If you selected the In/Out option, adjust the inner edge gradient with the In field, and adjust the outer edge gradient with the Out field.
8. If you selected the Splines option, adjust the inner and outer edge gradient vertices in the viewport.

Offset Edge Gradient

Use the Offset Edge Gradient option to set an inner or outer offset from the edge of the mask. A positive offset creates a falloff from the edge of the mask inward, and a negative offset creates a falloff from the edge of the mask outward.

To use the Offset Edge Gradient option:

1. With the mask selected, click the Edge Gradient option and select Offset.



The Offset and Opacity fields appear.

2. To create a falloff gradient from the edge of the mask, do one of the following:
• Enter a positive value in the Offset field to create a falloff from the edge of the mask inward.



• Enter a negative value in the Offset field to create a falloff from the edge of the mask outward.



Note: All mask edge gradient values can be animated.

3. As needed, use the Opacity field to adjust the opacity from the original edge of the mask to the offset edge of the mask.

An offset edge with an Opacity value of 100% is completely opaque, and creates a hard edge. An offset edge with an Opacity value of 0% is transparent, and creates a soft edge.

In/Out Edge Gradient

Use the In/Out Edge Gradient option to set inner and outer offsets with different values from the edge of the mask.

To use the In/Out Edge Gradient option:

1. With the mask selected, click the Edge Gradient option and select In/Out.



The In and Out fields appear.

2. Adjust the In field to create an offset from the edge of the mask inward.



3. Adjust the Out field to create an offset from the edge of the mask outward.

Splines Edge Gradient

Use Splines to set different mask edge gradient offsets for each control point on the mask.

To use the Splines Edge Gradient option:

1. With the mask selected, click the Edge Gradient option and select Splines.



The edges are offset by a default value of 10 pixels.

2. Enable the Control Points option .

The inner and outer edge outlines appear. Each mask control point has an inner and outer edge vertex.

3. To adjust the control point edge vertices, do one of the following:
4. Click and drag the edge vertex in the viewport.



5. In the Timeline (F4), enable Context, select the edge vertex in the viewport, and adjust the Blur In Angle, Blur In Distance, Blur Out Angle, or Blur Out Distance.

Note: In the Timeline, the Blur In Distance is the distance from the mask control point to its inner vertex, and the Blur Out Distance is the distance from the mask control point to its outer vertex. The Blur In and Blur Out Angles are the angle of the vertex in relation to the control point.

The edge vertices can be animated.

Note: Edge vertices are always attached to their control point, so the position of the vertices is set by the position of the "parent" control point. However, edge vertex keyframes can be set for the Blur In angle and distance, and for the Blur Out angle and distance.

Changing the Mask Outline Colors

Use Spline Color and Edge Color to change the colors of the mask spline and the mask edge gradient edges. This is useful when you have multiple masks in one operator.

To change the color of a mask's spline or edge:

1. With the mask selected, click the Spline Color box or the Edge Color box.

In the Paint operator, these two color boxes are in the Settings controls.

2. Select a new color from the Pick Color dialog.

Note: The new spline and edge colors apply only to the selected mask. When a new mask is drawn, the default spline and edge colors are used.

To change the default spline or edge color:

1. Make sure no objects are selected.
2. Set the spline or edge color.

The same default colors are used for the Paint and mask operators.